Rolling Stone have called Sal Kimber and The Rollin’ Wheel ‘Australiana-soaked alt-country at its finest‘. The Wheel have just released a new album produced by Shane O’Mara (Tim Rogers, The Audreys) and are touring it nationally at the moment.

The Rollin’ Wheel was formed in 2008 with older sister Beth Kimber, Jacob Cole, Cat Leahy and Trent McKenzie. Since then they’ve performed extensively across the country including Port Fairy Folk Festival, The National Folk Festival and Blue Mountains Music Festival and last year they toured Canada.

Last week, Evan Hughes interviewed Sal for the Timber and Steel blog (here) including a review of the album. You can get a signed copy of it from JB HI-FI or meet the gorgeous people in person and hear a rocking show!

Music will include Johnny G and the E Types and Quimbombo, the latin band. We’ll be on early so come and get dinner and party.

Second, Saturday 2:30pm the global tradition of occupying the commons as a protest has come to Martin Place under the banner of Occupy Sydney. They say

We seek an end to the corporate stronghold over all governments. We seek an authentic democracy that represents the 99% majority – us. We hold corporate entities responsible for their crimes against us and the Earth. We are inspired by and stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters striving for liberty in North Africa and the Middle East, Europe and more recently, the United States.

Lastly, on SundayTEDxMacquarie is on for the first time. We’ll be performing on all things radical using subversive bluegrass as our expressive medium in a 10minute lecture. The event is free from 10am-5pm with a live simulcast in Building Y3A. If you use the train to get there you’ll experience the wonder of three flights of esculators up to ground floor of the University.

Someone else who has played at TED. This is a video of Paul Kelly performing ‘How to Make Gravy’ at TED Sydney in June this year.

we are a bunch of friends who got tired of boring protests and started a fabulous marching band in 2010! We play at community events, coal ports, solidarity demonstrations, artyhipsterthings, fundraisers, and on the streetz!

These musical protestors follow in the tradition of marching bands from USA such as the Rude Mechanical Orchestra, Infernal Noise Brigade and Brass Liberation Orchestra. Here is Rude Mechanical Orchestra performing Smash-A Bank Polka performed at Occupy Wall Street!

If you are interested they are looking for sweet new members and supporters! Including people that can play trombone, trumpet, clarinet, sax, flute, euphonium/tuba, and any forms of percussion.

The rain didn’t keep us away from Reclaim the Lanes. The video below is an explanation and history of the event from the founder of its latest incarnation Chris Lego and organiser Sophie Trevitt.

I was disappointed that the rain meant The Crooked Fiddle was put back in its case. However, there was a great bit of Old-Timey with the Sydney-based Rusty Spring Syncopators and plenty more to be entertained by.

Here is one of their numbers called ‘Smackin’ the Sex’

Edit 3rd Oct.

And here is a bit of home footage of these rapskallions at Eliza Bar for the last night of Sydney Fringe Festival. Elizabeth Cotton’s ‘O Babe It Ain’t No Lie‘

Celebrating thirty years of music last year, Attila the Stockbroker (John Baine) was in Australia earlier this year amusing and challenging crowds with his poetry and song. I was introduced to him through David Rovics who talked about touring with him and appreciate his mix of punk attitude and traditional instrumentation. If you haven’t heard him before you should definitely listen to Asylum Seeking Daleks (below).

About The Lurkers

Punk bluegrass ratbags The Lurkers released their first album "Shoot to the Moon" in 2009. They spend much of their time travelling the country in a biodiesel powered yellow van, playing at festivals, parties and protests. Their second album is due for release in 2011.